Well, it's been a while since I've written anything…I have to admit I was a bit rusty at first, but I got it done. This is something I've been cooking up in my head since 'Perfection' if you can remember that dreadful story I wrote a while back. Hopefully, I'll feel the magic in this fiction; faith is a better word for it. It's almost pointless, and I'm still not sure if I even want to make this more than a one-shot, but I had to put this story to the test. It's been in my head for too long.

So after you read this, will you be the coolest person in the word and review it?

Your opinions, suggestions, and comments are much appreciated!

Much Love,

Doree

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Star.

You know the actual definition of a star is a gaseous mass in space, ranging in size from that of a planet to larger than the Earth's orbit, which generates energy by thermonuclear reactions? Well, according to Doc and his photographic memory, that's what a star is.

Myself, I prefer Timone's sky-theory; that the stars are actually fireflies that flew up and got themselves wedged permanently in some big 'bluish-black thing'. I could so care less about gas burning billions of miles way. When I look up and see chilly, 50 degree starry skies, such as the one I was current gazing at from the top of my bay window's roof, adjectives tend to jump out at me; ones like eternal, tranquil, secretive, and –

"Amazing."

Out the corner of my eye, I saw him turn his head to see my own profile properly. "It -sorry?" he asked, sounding slightly put out. I had interrupted his monologue about medical findings and theories since his death with my amazement and obsessive eye-goggling at the night sky. "I would hardly call an unborn organism being enveloped by its host twin 'amazing', Susannah."

"Ew." I said, turning my own head to face him and wrinkling my nose. "No, I was talking about – never mind. I wasn't listening, I'm sorry." I added guiltily. It wasn't that his facts were boring, they just…well, okay, they were.

I'm just not into the whole medical career track like he is. It was too technical and…medical. You know what I mean?

Instead of sighing exasperatingly like I thought him to do, Jesse grinned warmly with amusement dancing in his intelligent gaze. He adjusted himself on his side, lent his head against his propped up fist, and brought his other arm around to bring me in closer to him. "No, it is I who should be apologizing, querida. I do not mean to ramble on about theories and discussions from my classes;" he said before planting a kiss on top of my head. "I hope I haven't made you endure too much of it?"

"No, it's great, Jesse. It's…very informative." Though I was able to force a small smile, I was definitely unsuccessful when a note of sarcasm was heard tapering off of the last word.

I am lying through my teeth, I thought. He'll see right through that…

"Oh, good! Then maybe I could talk to you about new beta Thalassemia theory, founded by the late – "

"No, no, please? You wouldn't…?" I literally begged, sitting up slightly in the event that I had to take flight into my open bedroom window.

He chuckled as he sat up all the way and supported himself with his hands. "I wouldn't think of it, Susannah."

To match his level change I scrabbled to be up-right again. "Yeah, sure; Bore me to death's more your style. I see how you roll."

Beaming deviously, he leant over and covered my mouth with his own. I shifted over carefully (we were on the roof beneath my window, you know) towards his form so that we weren't a foot and half apart anymore. I snaked my arms around his neck as his hands came obediently to my hips. A bubbly feeling of happiness arose in the pit of my stomach, making me smile against his lips. He, too, stopped to do the same.

And we sat there just basking in each other's company, foreheads resting against the other, eyes closed, and breathing as the stars above us twinkled. For how long, I'm still not sure. But it was long enough for the pair of us to just…reflect; remember what we were to each other a month ago: just a love sick ghost and a female, hormonal teen/Shifter. Our lives couldn't have been more complicated. It was as if we were ducks swimming in a circular pond, trying to follow the other peacefully, (or maybe not so much) when an extremely bored little boy runs over, bends down to pick up, and throw a few rocks at us in an attempt to separate us.

…Three guesses as to that bored little boy was.

Paul threw everything he could at us, and it wasn't until the last curve ball did he realize that he'd been pitching to the totally wrong person; that I never wanted to wear his jersey, and never would. That's not to say that I never thought about it.

I mean, really, what could it have been like? How would Paul act if we did end up together? Would I be different, too? Would I be as happy as I am with Jesse?

Something in the back of my mind told me that I wouldn't be, that I had made the right choice after all. And that was all I needed to know. I didn't need gorgeous by-the-sea houses, BMWs, designer shoes, or any other material thing. I needed trust, loyalty, and dependability. I needed unconditional love.

I realize that that last one might have sounded cheesy, but it's true; I'd rather have absolute and everlasting affection than anything Paul could have given me.

I learned during our adventure back in November to save Jesse that Paul really wasn't a bad guy. Just maybe a bit confused when it came to commitment. I mean, he at least had the decency to pull me aside at the Winter Formal to tell me that he had made a mistake, and that he was sorry for everything that he has put me and Jesse through. I'd even go as far as to say that I owe him.

I mean, who knows? Had it not been for Paul moving into Carmel, I would have never known that I was a Shifter. I would have never known that I could travel backwards into time - well, I didn't know about it at all until he threatened to save Jesse's life at that Mission auction, so I wouldn't have known even with him here. Nevertheless, without him here being the jerk that he was, I would never have been able to bring Jesse's body out of the 1850's for his soul to inhabit, thus, allowing him to live again.

So, yeah, I guess I owe Paul a lot more than I thought I did; I owed him my happiness…

"Susannah…" I blinked a few times, clearing the images from the past. I noticed that Jesse had repositioned ourselves so that he was holding me around my waist, my hand rested lightly on his chest, and my head against the crook of his neck. I tilted my head upwards nudging the bottom of his chin to show I was listening. "What are you thinking about?"

I let out a breath I wasn't even aware I'd been holding. I waited a moment before I pulled away from his embrace and scooted over a few inches to look him in the face. Even though half of his features were thrown into the shadows and the other half in the moonlight, I was still able to see that he was perplexed. But noting the fact that I was serious, he said nothing.

"I was thinking about Paul." I answered quietly; never blinking, shifting around, or looking away. I needed him to know that I could say the name and not hesitate or flinch in doing so, although the sound of it still sent slight shivers down my back.

The eyebrow with the scar rose in question. "Slater? Why, has he – "

Seeing where this was headed, I cut him off. "No, no…he hasn't done anything wrong." But, my saying this only further confused my boyfriend. I breathed in deeply, and exhaled gustily before continuing. "I was just thinking about what happened last month- "

"Querida, you don't have to – "

"Wait, Jesse, hear me out." I held up a hand to keep him from prolonging. "Last month was horrible; never knowing what he'd be up to next, or if this new plan was going to come through…"

The memory of a particularly cold November night, a small box containing the Gutierrez's small $2,000 fortune, and Paul's warm lips, lightly kissing mine while we lay in their grass…

I cleared my throat to dismiss the thought. I even shook my head for good measure. I looked at my hands in my lap, and pressed on carefully. "He knew what he was doing. And maybe…maybe that's what I need; structure, organization, and assurance. There could be more I don't know…"

"Susannah, what are you saying?'

"He knew I was a Shifter before I even knew it. He knew we could travel in and out of time anytime we wanted – "

"Yes, I know this already, but what does Shifting have to do with your need of assurance, and structure, and – and - ?"

And as if I had just figured out the answer to a particularly difficult problem, I looked up a small smirk playing across my lips. "Lessons!" I blurted out, unable to keep the smile out of my voice; leaning forward a little to emphasize my euphoria.

"L–lessons?" Jesse stammered; he was gob smacked.

Keep 'em on their toes, Ladies…

"Not just any lessons…Shifting Lessons!" I was now grinning like a greedy child, ready to receive their weekly allowance.

"With Slater?" he pointed down, I guess, in prominence. "No, querida, no."

"No, Jesse, listen!" I said quietly so that I didn't wake anyone up in the house, and I quickly scooted practically onto his lap, I was so excited about this idea. Once in position, I crossed my legs Indian Style, and said, "There's no way I could learn the stuff on my own."

"Sure there is!" He lifted a hand and dropped it heavily onto my bent knee. "You could always research on the Interpret – "

"The Internet – "

" – or, check out some books from the library." Jesse shrugged innocently.

"I don't even have a library card!" I gapped, shocked at his resourcefulness.

He lent his head in dangerously close to my own, and slowly annunciated the words, "Borrow mine."

He had retorted in a way that it sounded like he had said 'duh!' It was so great, I had to laugh. "No, that's not the point! I need hands on training."

"Yes, and that's exactly what I'm afraid of; his hands on you!" Jesse sniggered tiredly, but lowly, mindful of my sleeping fellow house members.

"Jesse? Paul and I are done." I made a sweeping motion with both of my hands, both crossing in front of each other to highlight this point to my devotee. "Done, done, done, done! And he knows that, he swore to me at the dance, you remember!"

"Yes, I do, and that's what I'm worried about – "

Having lost all patience and playfulness, and resorting immediately to the straight-forward. "Aww, Jesse, come on! Why not?" I leant back on my hands to show him I meant business. I'd read in Cosmo before that it was all in the body language and I was using it to my advantage.

"Why do you need my approval as to whom you're choosing to 'hang' with?" He raised both of his eyebrows. "Why not just do what you did previously and take the lessons without my acknowledgement?"

Wh – hey…Low-Blow!

"Ouch." I remarked tonelessly no longer caring to lower my tones, to which he mhmm'ed in response just as loudly. "Jesse, I want you with me on this one. I don't want you in the dark, I would like you with me. I want to bore you with Shifter theory." He chuckled at that.

"And…" I drawled playfully, moving around to straddle his lower half. "You don't want me hurt, do you? I mean, wouldn't you feel better knowing that I can take care of myself Shifter style? You know, it's better to have the skills and not need them, than need them and not have them."

"…It would make you happy?" He inquired doubtfully.

"Yep!"

"And you won't drop this?"

"Nope!"

"And if I say no…?"

"Then, you will be in the Dog House for I don't know how long."

His eyebrows were furrowed and his eyes were searching my face for any sign of weakness; for anything that he might use in opposition of my brilliant proposal. I beamed even wider when I saw that he found nothing. I held my breath just in case… but then, he spoke.

"Fine. But, if he touches you – "

"YES!" I whispered loudly, cupping his face in my hands. I began to thank him repeatedly in between kisses, to which he responded, 'mhmm'.

I stopped saying thank you after about the fourth peck, and decided to reward him with a more…friendly kiss. It was going quite nicely, too, until my boyfriend's cell alarm went off.

"Jesse, turn it off! My mom will have heard it!" I hissed urgently, poking my head out from behind Jesse's shoulder, I tried to get a glimpse of my bedroom door through my window. If Mom or Andy did catch us up here, we'd be toast. We'll I'LL be toast. Jesse will just have to assume a new name. I mean, they like him, but I doubt they'd be too happy if they saw us. You know…alone. They only know that I started socially dating Jesse a month ago. They don't know we've been seeing each other officially sense my junior year.

So, do you smell what I am cookin' here?

When I saw that there were no signs of an intrusion yet, I glanced back down at my partner, who, thankfully, had turned off the reiterating beeping. He raised his head, and turned the flip up towards me so that I could see the blue-glowing digital clock. It read 12:01 am.

"Friday. Feliz cumpleaños, Querida; Happy Birthday." he had just finished saying this when his cell phone gave a shrill, high pitched warning beep. He sighed. "And that would be my cue."

He made to get up, but me being the quick thinker that I am, stopped him. "No," I groaned. "You're leaving? Already?"

He laughed warmly, and then planted another small kiss on top of my head as he stood up to go. "Yes, we both have class in the morning, remember?"

I felt like all the getty and bubbly air that kept me afloat for the past few minutes had suddenly gone flat.

School…I forgot about that.

"Oh. Yeah." was my intelligent remark. I looked back at my bedroom window, disappointedly.

Apparently satisfied with my answer, Jesse turned and he quickly, and quietly, shuffled towards the latter that he had gotten from the garage below us. Come to think of it, that's really bad; Mom really should lock the garage door. But, thank God it's only Jesse who sneaks into the garage to grab the latter to come up to my room every night, just to get in a few extra Us Hours in.

He had already descended a few steps, when I turned back around. I clambered over to where his head was still visible above the roof gable to kiss him one more time. "I love you."

"I love you, too, querida. I will see you tonight. If you see him at school, or he arrives at the party before I do, do not ask Slater about giving you lessons – don't even acknowledge his presence." He added when he saw that I was about to protest. Pleased with himself, he allowed a half smile to appear on his face before stepping down the rest of the steps to the bottom. Once he was back on the ground, he looked back up at me, raised a hand, and moved it slightly in a 'goodbye'.

"Jerk." I chuckled loud enough for him to hear at the bottom. I saw his perfect teeth glisten in the moon's light as he pivoted on his heal, and headed for his car off the side of the road (he parked it their so that he wouldn't disturb my family).

I shivered as I watched him get into his car; I never realized how chilly it was until he had left my side.

I waited for him to drive around the corner that would remove him from my sight before I looked back up into the night – or now, I guess, morning – sky.

Stars.

Thinking of Jesse and his scientific logic, I wrinkled my nose and said, "Definitely fireflies."

Smiling to myself I tip-toed back to my Bay Window, jiggled the shutter up, and scrambled through. And never changing my clothes, I crawled gratefully underneath my warm, pink covers. I fell asleep before my head even hit the pillows.

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Simple enough? Tell me what you think of it in a review! Depending on the long, many, and suggestive reviews should determine if I should and when the next update could be. Hehe, I'm a stinker, eh?

Lol, thanks for reading, anyway.

Doree